Mail-bag-handling apparatus.



H. N. PEDERSEN- & P. M. GHRISTENSEN.

MAIL BAG HANDLING APPARATUS APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1909.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

HLN. PEDERSEN & P. M. GP IRISTENSEN. I MAIL BAG HANDLING APPARATUS IAPPLICATION rum) MAR. 19, 1909. 942,278. Patented Dec. 7, 1909. 4SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- H. N. PEDERSEN & P. M. CHRISTENSEN.

MAIL BAG HANDLING APPARATUS 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 19, 1909.

H. N. PEDERSEN & P. M. CHRISTENSEN. MAIL BAG- HANDLING APPARATUS. IAPZPLIOATIOR IIL'ED MAR. 19.1909.

942,278. Patented Dec. 7, 1909.

4 SHEETS -SHBE'I' 4.

ITED ST IFTQE.

HAZEL NELSON PEDERSEN AND PETER MARTIN CHRISTENSEN, OF RACINE,WISCONSIN.

MAIL-BAG-HANDLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. '7, 1909.

Application filed. March 19, 1909. Serial N 0. 484,476.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, HAZEL NELsoN PE- DERSEN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and PETER MARTIN CHRISTENSEN, a subject of the King of Denmark,both residing at Racine, Racine county, WVisconsin, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag-Handling Apparatus; andwe do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain improvements in railway mail handlingapparatus; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readilyunderstood by those skilled in the art in the light of the followingexplanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating what We nowconsider our preferred embodiments from among other formations andarrangements within the spirit and scope of our invention.

The invention consists in certain novel features in construction, and incombinations and arrangements of parts and elements as more fully andparticularly explained hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, is a horizontal sectionthrough a mail car, portions being broken away, showing the bag catchingand delivering devices of the car in operative positions, the catchingclutch being about to remove a bag from the delivering crane, thecatching and delivering devices of a station being shown in plan, thestation catching clutch being shown closed as though having justreceived a bag from the delivering arms of the car. Fig. 2, is ahorizontal section through part of a mail car showing the catching anddelivering devices withdrawn into the car, the car door being shownclosed. Fig. 8, is a vertical longitudinal section through part of amail car, the catching and delivering devices being shown in operativeposition, the station catching and delivering devices being shown inelevation, the parts being in the positions as shown by Fig. 1. Fig. 4,is a detail horizontal section through the Vertical supporting post inthe car, the locking lever and a portion of the track-way frame andtruck being shown in plan. Fig. 5, is a detail horizontal section takenon the line 55,

Fig. 3. Fig. 6, is a detail perspective of the catching clutch and itstruck carried by the car. Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line77, Fig. 1. Fig. 8, is a detail plan view of the station clutch showingthe same in opened position. Fig. 9, is a detail cross section throughthe lower portion of the track frame supporting post showing the catchfor the lower end of the post in plan. Fig. 10, is a vertical sectionthrough said catch, the lower end of the post appearing in elevation.

in the drawings, we have indicated a side wall 1, of a mail car havingthe usual side opening 2, which can be closed by any suitable door, forinstance, the common sliding door 3. At each station along the railroadtrack or way Where mail bags are to be delivered to and received frommail cars, we can arrange a platform 4, provided with any suitable maildelivering crane 5, having arms, adapted to detachably and verticallyhold one or more mail bags 6, by their ends and at the desired height sothat the catcher on the moving car can engage the bag or bags at thecentral portion or portions and remove the same from the crane anddeliver the same into the car. Usually in advance of said crane (in thedirection of movement of the mail cars) we provide a clutch or catcherto receive the bag delivered from the mail car. This catcher can becarried in an elevated position by and is affixed to an up right post 7,rising above the station platform. In the specific example illustrated,said catcher consists of a horizontally disposed clutch or grip facingin a direction opposite to that in which the mail cars approach thestation, and adapted to engage the central portion of the bag held bythe delivering device of the moving mail car, and strip saidbag from thecar devices and grip and hold the same. The clutch consists of a pair ofbowed or oppositely-curved horizontally rockable approximately-similarbag gripping aws 8, 9, pivotally joined together at their forward endsby pivot pin 10, and free or disconnected at their rear ends. At aboutmidway its length, each jaw is rockable horizontally on a verticalpivot. The jaw 8, at its outer side, about midway its length, is formedwith a lateral ear 80, horizontally overlapping the rear projecting endof an arm 11, and pivotally united thereto by avertical pivot pin 81.The horizontal arm 11, supports the bag clutch and is rigidly secured tothe post 7. The forward ends of arm 11, and horizontally swingable lever90, overlap and are hinged together by vertical pivot pin 12. The outerlateral ear from the central portion of jaw 9, overlaps and is hinged tothe rear end of lever 90, by vertical pivot pin 92. The arrangement issuch that the clutch can be opened by swinging the aw 9, laterally toseparate the free ends of the jaws, during which movement, the leverswings outwardly, the aws rock on their intermediate pivots 81, 92, andas their free ends separate their pivotally united ends move or drawrearwardly or toward the direction from which the bag to be grippedapproaches.

Means are provided to hold the jaws, detachably, in opened and closedpositions. F or instance, we show a horizontally swingable ratchet baror lever 13, extending across the upper faces of arm 11 and of lever 90,and pivoted at 130, to the arm and yieldingly held by spring 132, withthe teeth 131, against vertical stop or tooth 133, rigid with the lever.We usually so incline said teeth 131, as to normally hold the leveragainst outward swing, thus normally holding the jaws locked in closedor gripping position, but permitting the tooth 133, to freely run overthe teeth of the rack or locking lever when the lever is swung inwardlyto bring the jaws to closed position. The clutch is opened to receive amail bag, by swinging the lever 13, clear of the tooth 133, and swingingthe jaw 9, outwardly, then releasing the locking lever 13.

The mail car is provided with means to hold the bag to be delivered sothat its central portion will move into the clutch between the jawsthereof and strike the closed portion of the clutch, that is, the unitedends of the jaws with sufiicient force to force said ends of the jawsforwardly and thereby swing the lever 90, inwardly, bringing the jawstogether gripping and clamping the bag between them and stripping itfrom the car devices. As the jaws thus close together, the tooth 133,will run over the ratchet 131, and thus lock the jaws in closed grippingposition. The mail bag is thus held by the clutch until the operatorremoves the same by opening the jaws, while the lever 13 is pressed fromthe tooth 133. The jaws S, 9, are preferably formed with wide fiat orsmooth inner faces to avoid injury to the mail bags, and usually one ofthe jaws is formed with curved faces or surfaces 82, at its hinged endbridging and arranged in advance of the hinge to protect the bagtherefrom and to prevent the bag being cut by the hinged ends of thejaws as the jaws close together.

we provide a clutch or grip to strip the bags from the cranes 5, whilethe ear is in motion, and to deliver said bags into the moving car, andsuch clutch carried by the car is of a construction practically the sameas that hereinbefore described for catching bags from the moving cars.ried by the car is provided with and is car ried by a movable truck orcarriage carried by and movable longitudinally of a horizontallyswingable frame provided with a runway for the truck, said frame beingmounted in or on the car to swing on a vertical axis in such manner thatthe frame can swing to operative position at the exterior of the carwith the truck at the forward end thereof and the clutch in opened orbag receiving po sition, so that the impact of the clutch with the bagupheld by the crane, will force the truck rearwardly of the frame,causing the frame to swing back into the ear carrying therewith thetruck, clutch and bag gripped thereby into the car. To this end, avertical normally fixed shaft or rod 14, is supported in the ear,usually a short distance within the car and about opposite the front endof the car side opening 2, through which the bags are to be received anddelivered. This shaft is arranged a sufiicient distance in the car topermit the passage of the sliding door 3, across the opening and betweenthe shaft and the adjacent side wall of the car. Said shaft at its upperend is confined in a suitable bracket llO, fixed to the ceiling, and atits lower end by a suitable bracket 1 1-1, fixed to the floor. If sodesired, the shaft can be so mounted as to be capable, when released, ofswinging from its upper end, inwardly of the car to free its lower endfrom the bottom bracket 14:1, to permit the truck supporting frame to beremoved from or placed on the shaft, as and for the purposes hereinafterset forth. To permit this adjustment the shaft can be suspended orsupported from its upper end by and capable of swinging in a fixedvertical plane on the strong cross pin or pivot 142, carried by theupper bracket 140.

The floor bracket 1&1, can be horizontally slotted or formed with ahorizontal groove or step block or socket 14-3, open at one end topermit the lower end of the shaft to move laterally into or from thesocket. The shaft is normally confined in the upright position and insaid socket, by a lock consisting of a depressible plate 11 1, having aperforation to receive the shaft end and confine the same in operativeposition. The plate is normally upheld in locking position by spring145, and has a projecting end which can be engaged and depressed by thefoot to release the shaft end. However, we do not, as at presentadvised, wish to limit the invention to such specific arrangement, nordo we wish to limit the broad features of our invention to a movable oradjustable supporting shaft or axis for the movable truck carryingframe.

Said clutch car- 15, is a strong tube or sleeve embracing the shaft 14,and axially movable or rotatable thereon. The sleeve is confined on theshaft between upper and lower collars 146; the lower collar beingnormally clamped to the shaft by set screw 147, or other adjustablemeans, so that said lower collar can be removed from the shaft to permitlongitudinal movement of the sleeve to or from the shaft, when the shaftis released at one end as hereinbefore described. This sleeve carriesthe mail bag delivering devices, and also the frame carrying the clutchtruck.

The truck carrying frame is provided with one or more horizontallydisposed about radially arranged supporting arms 16, rigid with saidframe and centered on said sleeve. For instance, the sleeve passesloosely through the outer ends of said arms so that the arms can turnthereon, between collars 150, normally fixed on the exterior of thesleeve and upholding said arms and the frame in the desired adjustment.It is desirable, however, that the sleeve turn with said arms, althoughin some instances a limited independent movement of the arms on thesleeve is desirable for the purposes hereinafter. described. To permitthis limited independent movement and yet cause the sleeve to otherwiseturn with the arms, one of the arms can be provided with a pair ofspaced rigid stop lugs or shoulders 160, between which is arranged aradial projection 151, from one of the collars 150, thereby permittingmovement of the arms independent of the sleeve, the distance between thetwo lugs 160. However, we do not wish to limit the inventionto suchspecific arrangement.

A latch or look is provided to lock the truck carrying frame and thesleeve to the shaft and against movement when in the operative andwithdrawn positions. This function can be provided by arranging aswinging intermediately pivoted locking lever or latch 17, on one of thearms, and provided at its inner end with a locking bolt or end 170projecting radially through a slot or opening in the sleeve and adaptedto enter a radial socket or hole 148, in the shaft. A spring 171 isprovided to yieldingly hold the latch in locking position. The outer endof the latch is provided with a cam surface 172, to be engaged by theclutch truck for swinging the latch against its spring to withdraw thebolt 170, from looking position, all as hereinafter set forth.

The truck carrying frame is horizontally arranged and elongated and isformed with a longitudinally curved and elongated runway having'closedends or heads 160, said runway being formed by four spaced parallelcurved tracks 161, arranged to form a pair of parallel spaced uppertracks and a pair of parallel spaced lower tracks, the lower tracksbeing spaced from the upper tracks, said upper and lower tracks beingfixed together and to each other at the ends by the heads 160, and thetracks being rigid with the radial or lateral supporting arms 16, if sodesired, two parallel spaced arms 16, being employed rigid,respectively, with the upper and lower pairs of tracks, although we donot wish to so limit ourselves.

The supporting arms 16, extend inwardly from the frame between the ends,thereof, usually being arranged somewhat nearer the inner than the outeror forward end of said truck carrying frame. The arrangement andformation of the truck carrying frame is such that when the frame isswung outwardly on the shaft 14, as a center or axis, the frame willpass out through the car side opening 2, and will swing forwardly tooperative position with the front end of the frame extending forwardlyat the exterior of the car in advance of said side opening and adistance laterally from the side of the car and with the rear portion ofthe frame curving rearwardly and inwardly through the said side opening2, and the frame is held locked in this operative position by the latchbolt 170, extending through sleeve 15 into the socket 148 in the shaft14. When the frame swings to withdrawn position it moves on the shaft14, as a center, rearwardly and inwardly through the car side openinguntil it has passed completely into the car and assumes a position thereverse of the operative nosition.

18, is the clutch carrying truck in the form of a 811(16, block or frameconfined within the runway formed by the tracks 161, and niovablelongitudinally from end to end thereof. The truck or slide 18, isconfined between the tracks against vertical and lateral displacement,and to permit it to slide or travel freely longitudinally within theframe; and it is supported by a series of vertical and horizontalrollers 180, mounted on studs 181, proj ecting from the horizontal andvertical sides or faces of the slide so that the rollers will travel inengagement with the various flat "ert-ical and horizontal faces of thetracks.

The bag gripping and conveying clutch is arranged at the outer side ofthe truck or slide and outwardly beyond the truck carrying frame orrunway. This clutch is carried by the horizontal arm 19, rigid with thetruck and projecting outwardly and forwardly and rearwardly beyond theouter side thereof. The horizontally rockable inner j aw 190 aboutmidway between its ends is pivotally joined, at 191, to the front end ofand arranged at the outer side of said rigid arm 19, while the rear endof horizontally swinging forwardly extending lever 192, is pivoted tothe rear end of arm 19, by vertical pivot 193. The outer horizontallyrockable and outwardly movable clutch jaw 194, is arranged at the innerside of lever 192, and

about midway between its ends said jaw 194: is pivoted at 195 to thefront end of lever 192. The two jaws 190, 194, are hinged together attheir rear ends by vertical pivot 196, and said jaws are formed withbroad flat inner bag engaging surfaces and guards 197 in advance of thehinge pivot 196, as hereinbefore described in connection with thestation clutch.

Any suitable means can be provided for normally locking the clutch jawsagainst opening movement, yet permitting closing movement thereof. Forinstance, we show horizontally swingable toothed or ratchet lever or bar20, arranged transversely of the arm 19, and lever 192 and fulcrumed at21, and yieldingly held by spring 22, with the toothed edge againsttooth or shoulder 23 rigid with lever 192. The toothed edge of the lever20, is formed by teeth so inclined as to run freely over shoulder 23,when the outer jaw is swung inwardly but so as to engage said shoulderand prevent outward swing of said jaw. Hence, the clutch can be openedwhen in the car and the truck or slide can be moved to the outer orreceiving end of the frame, and the frame can then be swung out tooperative bag receiving position, the ratchet bar 20, holding the clutchin open position.

As the car moves forwardly the central portion of the mail bag 6, heldby crane 5, will pass between the clutch jaws and strike the hinged orunited ends thereof, thereby causing said jaws to automatically closetogether tightly gripping and holding the bag between them and strippingthe bag from the crane, the ratchet bar 20, holding the jaws in grippingor clutching position. The impact of the clutch and bag will throw theclutch and its truck or slide rearwardly longitudinally of the runway ortracks 161, and as the truck moves rearwardly along the frame tracks,one of the rollers 180, (or if desired some other part moving with thetruck) will engage the outer cam end 172 of the track frame lock,swinging said lock to release the sleeve 15 from shaft let, andthereupon the impact of the truck with the closed rear end of the framerunway, will swing said frame inwardly into the car and forwardlytherein to the completely reversed or withdrawn position. The mailclerks can then, in the car, open the clutch and remove the mail bag orbags carried thereby. If desired, the locking latch 17, can be soarranged as to automatically lock the sleeve 15, and consequently thetrack frame in withdrawn position as the truck when at the rear or innerend of the runway, has passed beyond and released the latch, permittingits spring 171, to act in holding the latch in locking position. If sucharrangement is employed, the clerks can release the latch by hand whenit is desired to swing the track frame to operative position, or bypushing the truck along the tracks to operative position, it willautomatically release the latch the same as it does when movingrearwardly under the impact of the mail bag.

If so desired, although it is not the intention to thereby limit allfeatures of the invention, an operative connection can be establishedbetween the horizontally swingable track frame and the sliding car door3 whereby the opened car door can be automatically closed by the inwardor withdrawing movement of the track frame, and whereby the track framecan be swung out to operative position by the opening movement of thecar door. As a means which can be employed for this purpose, we show aradial arm 30, arranged to swing within the car on the shaft 14;, as acenter and lixed to the frame arm 16, to swing therewith. At its freeend this arm 80, is formed with a free opening 31 through which dependsand freely passes a cable 32 at its lower end carrying counterweight 33.The cable passes from the counter weight upwardly through theperforation 31, and from thence horizontally and rearwardly within thecar to the pulley 34, mounted at the rear edge wall of the car opening2, and from thence the cable passes forwardly across the car opening tothe rear edge of the car door to which it is atlixed.

Vhen the track frame is in operative position at the exterior of thecar, the arm 30 extends rearwardly from the shaft 14 toward the pulley341, and the car door is open. hen the track frame swings inwardly, thearm 30, swings forwardly and inwardly, thereby carrying the weighted endof the cable 32, forwardly and drawing the door rearwardly to close thecar opening, but by employing the counterweight and allowing the cableto pass freely through the arm 30 until the counterweight engages thearm, the

parts can be so arranged that the door 3, will not start across the sideopening 2, until the outer ends of the track frame and of the clutchhave passed inwardly beyond the range of movement of the door. Thisconnection between the track frame and the door will also serve as abrake on the track frame to reduce the speed thereof in completing orduring the completion of its retracting or withdrawing stroke.

If so desired, means can be employed, to yieldingly hold the clutchcarrying truck in operative position at the forward end of the trackframe. For instance, the inner end of ratchet bar 20, can be extendedinwardly so as to move above the outer top track 161, and said end ofbar 20 can be beveled rearwardly and inwardly as shown at 21 to engageand slip past pivoted toe 25 pivoted at 26 to said upper outer track,and yieldingly held forwardly by comparatively strong spring 27 againsta stop 28. This toe 25 is arranged near the front end of the track frameso that beveled edge 24 will engage the outer end of the toe as thetruck is moving forwardly causing the ratchet bar 20, to swing away fromthe shoulder 23, in order to let said bar slip past the toe and dropback to normal position in front of the toe as the truck reaches itslimit or forward position. In order to move rearwardly the square rearedge of the inner end of ratchet bar 20, must engage toe 25 and swingthe toe rearwardly against the tension of its spring 27 to enable theratchet bar end to slip past the toe. The truck will hence be yieldinglyheld by the spring actuated toe, in operative position to grasp the mailbag, and against being jarred from operative position by the vibrationand movement of the rapidly traveling car. Also, if so desired, meanscan be employed to automatically open the clutch or swing the outer awoutwardly when the clutch carrying truck is moved to operative position.For instance, we show the truck provided with a longitudinal movablepush loar 29 independently movable longitudinally of the truck andprojecting in advance thereof and adapted to engage the closed front end160 of the track frame as the truck about reaches its limit of forwardmovement, whereby the push bar will be forced rearwardly, therebyswinging forwardly the outer end of an intermediately pivoted lever 29",at its inner end pivotally attached to the push bar and at its outer endlongitudinally slotted and receiving the pivot pin 196 joining togetherthe rear ends of the clutch jaws. While the push bar is thus beingforced rearwardly the ratchet bar 20 is held away from shoulder 23, bythe engagement of beveled edge 24 with the toe 25. The forward swing ofthe outer end of said lever 29* presses the rear ends of the clutch jawsforwardly, and consequently opens the clutch, and by the time the clutchhas been opened the ratchet bar has slipped past the toe and is thusrestored to locking position. o wish it understood however, that ourinvention is not limited to the specinc constructions and arrangementsthus described, nor in fact do we wish to limit the broad features ofour invention to means for automatically opening the clutch.

If so desired, bag delivering means can be provided operating inconjunction with the track frame and swinging into and out of the carand from and to operative posit-ion. For instance, we provide a pair ofparallel horizontal radial bag delivering arms 40, at the rear endsnormally fixed to the sleeve 15, usually to the opposite end portionsthereof and above and below the track frame and extending transverselyof and outwardly beyond the rear portion of the track frame. At theirouter ends these arms are provided with suitable devices such as springguarded hooks 41 opening rearwardly to receive the end handles or loopsof mail bags and to hold the mail bag stretched vertically between theouter ends of the arms and in such position that the bag catching clutcharranged at the station will receive the central portion of the bag andstrip the same from the books 41. The arms 40, are arranged behind or inrear of the track frame clutch when the parts are in operative positionand are usually so arranged with respect to the station clutchcooperating therewith, that as the car moves forwardly, the track frameclutch will pass above the station clutch, and the station clutch willreceivethe bag from the delivering arms before the track frame clutchreaches the bag held by the station crane 5. The delivering arms 40, arearranged suflicient distances above and below the track frame so as notto interfere with the free rearward passage of the track frame clutchand the bag carried thereby. The delivering arms swing into the car withthe track frame, but by reason of the limited independent movementbetween the track frame and sleeve 15, said delivering arms can when thetrack frame is in withdrawn position, be swung rearwardly and inwardlyso as not to obstruct the interior of the car by extending directlyinwardly thereof across the track frame. This independent movement ispermitted, as hereinbefore described, by having the track frame radialarms loosely mounted on the sleeve 15 and coupled to swing therewiththrough the medium of the radial projection 150 interposed between thespaced lugs 160.

A mail car after making a trip, often returns in the opposite directionwithout being first turned or reversed on a loop or turn table. To avoidproviding both sides of each mail car with duplicate sets of catchingand delivering devices, arranged to operate in opposite directions, wepropose to provide one catching and delivering set for each mail car andrender the same applicable to both sides of the car and to operate inopposite directions according to the direction of movement of the car.To this end, we provide the opposite sides of the car with shafts 14,movably or adjustably mounted as hereinbefore described and arranged atcorrespondingly opposite ends of the respective car side openings. Thetrack frame and its attached sleeve and the parts carried thereby, canhence be applied to either shaft 14 as hereinbefore described, and whenthe car starts on the return trip in the opposite direction, the sleeveand its attached parts can be removed from one shaft 14 and applied tothe other shaft 14 so that the track frame and its clutch will face andoperate in the proper direction and from the proper side of the car.

The devices herein set forth are designed to avoid damage and injury tothe mail bags and to permit the delivery of mail bags from and to mailcars while traveling at great speed. Clutches about such as describedcan be employed for handling mail bags Without danger to the operatorsand with minimum danger of injury to the bags. By employing a clutchcarried by a traveling truck, mail bags can be successfully delivered torapidly moving cars without danger to the occupants of the car, reducingto the minimum liability of injury to the bags and their contents, andthe shock and severity of the impact between the clutch and the possiblyheavily laden bag or bags will be reduced to the minimum by theswingable track frame and the truck traveling along said frame.

it is obvious that various changes and modifications might be resortedto in the forms, constructions and arrangements of the parts described,that elements might be omitted, and that features might be added withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of our invention, and hence we donot wish to limit ourselves to the exact constructions shown.

What we claim is 1. In a railway mail bag handling apparatus, a mailbagclutch or catcher comprising rockable aws having forward free ends andpivotally united rear ends, and means pivotally supporting andcontrolling said jaws whereby the clutch can be opened and whereby thesame will be automatically closed to grip one or more mail bags by theengagement of the bag or bags with the connected ends of the jaws.

2. In apparatus of the character substantially as set forth, a receivingor catching,

clutch comprising pivotally mounted jaws hinged together at their rearends and having free front ends, and supporting means pivotally appliedto said jaws at points intermediate their ends and whereby the same arecapable of opening and closing.

8. In mail bag handling apparatus, a bag catcher consisting of a clutchadapted to open and close and comprising jaws having free front ends andflexibly connected at their rear ends, and means pivotally sup portingsaid jaws and applied thereto intermediate their ends and comprising aswinging supporting member.

l. A mail bag catcher consisting of a clutch comprising movable jawsadapted to receive and automatically close on and clutch a bag,supporting means for said jaws comprising a swinging member pivotallyapplied to an intermediate portion of one of said jaws, and meanswhereby said clutch is caused to close on and grip the bag by themeeting impact between the bag and clutch.

5. In mail bag handling apparatus, a bag catcher consisting of a clutchcomprising pivotally mounted members adapted to be swung to open theclutch to receive a bag, supporting means for said members comprisingarms pivotally united at their rear ends to open and close with saidmembers, means whereby the meeting impact of the bag and clutch willcause the clutch to automatically close on and hold the bag, and lockingmeans holding the clutch in closed bag holding position.

('3. In mail bag handling apparatus, a bag catcher consisting of a bagreceiving and gr1pping clutch comprising bag gripping aws, flexiblyoined at their rear ends and pivotally supported from pointsintermediate their ends, relatively-movablc supporting means wherebysaid jaws can open to receive the bag and close to grip the bag, andmeans permitting free closing movement of the clutch and normallyholding the same against opening movement.

7. Mail bag handling apparatus comprising a bag catcher and holderconsisting of a bag clutch comprising a pair of cooperating bag engagingjaws flexibly joined at their inner ends and pivotally mountedintermediate their ends, and supporting and 0011- trolling means forsaid jaws, substantially as described.

8. Mail bag handling apparatus comprising a bag catcher and gripconsisting of a clutch having horizontally rockable cooperating baggripping jaws flexibly connected at their rear portions, and supportingand controlling means for said jaws comprising an arm applied to one ofsaid jaws and swingable therewith from a point in rear of said jaws.

9. Mail bag handling apparatus comprising a pair of transverselyrockable cooperating bag gripping jaws hinged together at their rearends and provided with means for guarding the bag against injuriousengagement with the hinge joint, and means for supporting said jaws.

10. Mail bag handling apparatus comprising a bag catcher and clutchhaving a pair of cooperating oppositely bowed rockable bag gripping jawsflexibly united at their rear portions and supporting and controllingmeans for said jaws to which intermediate portions of said jaws arepivotally mounted.

11. Mail bag handling apparatus comprising a pair of cooperating baggripping jaws flexibly joined at their rear portions, means supportingone jaw, a swingable arm supporting the other jaw whereby they can open,and close, and means automatically holding said jaws against openingmovement and permitting free closing movement thereof.-

12. Mail bag handling apparatus comprising a pivotally mounted baggripping jaw, a forwardly extending lever swingable toward and from saidjaw, a cooperating bag gripping jaw arranged opposite said firstmentioned jaw and pivotally joined to said lever and at its rear endmovably joined to the rear-end of said first mentioned jaw, andcontrolling means.

13. In mail bag handling apparatus a horizontally disposed arm fixed toa support, ahorizontally swingable lever fulcrumed to said arm andextending forwardly from its fulcrum point, a pair of horizontallyrockable cooperating bag gripping jaws pivotally united at their rearends and free at their front ends and arranged between said arm and saidlever and pivotally joined thereto respectively at points about midwaythe length of the jaws, and means permitting free closing movement ofthe jaws and adapted to hold the same in gripping position.

14. Mail bag catching means comprising a movable support provided with abag catching and gripping clutch carried thereby and movable therewith,and a swingable frame having an elongated track-way for said support,whereby the meeting impact between the bag and the clutch will cause anoperative stroke of said support to reduce the shock of the impact andto swing the frame to deliver the bag at the point desired.

15. Mail bag handling apparatus comprising a frame carried by andmounted in to move into and out of a car and provided with an elongatedrunway, means for normally holding said frame in projected and withdrawnpositions, a truck movable back and forth in said runway, and a mail bagcatching and gripping clutch carried by and movable with said truck, asand for the purposes substantially as described.

16. In mail bag handling apparatus, a movable frame provided with meansconfining the same to a definite path of movement, a truck confined toand freely movable longitudinally of said frame and adapted on itsoperative stroke to drive said frame on its operative stroke, and a mailbag receiving and gripping catcher carried by and movable with saidtruck and adapted to propel the same on an operative stroke by the forceof the impact between the clutch and a bag.

17. In mail bag handling apparatus a swinging frame having an operativestroke to and from withdrawn position in the car and operative positionat the exterior of a car, and a mail bag catcher consisting of a clutchadapted to receive and grip mail bags, said clutch being carried by andfreely movable longitudinally of said frame and so arranged with respectthereto that-the force of the impact between the clutch and a mail bagcaught while the car is in motion will force the clutch longitudinallyof the frame and cause an operative stroke of said frame to itswithdrawn position within the car.

18. In mail bag handling apparatus, the combination of a horizontallyswingable frame carried'by a car, said frame swinging on a vertical axisto and from withdrawn position within the car and operative bag catchingposition at the exterior of the car, a truck confined to and movablelongitudinally of said frame, and a bag catching and holding clutchcarried by said truck.

19. In combination, an elongated horizontally swingable frame carried bya car and movable to and from withdrawn position within the car and bagcatching position at the exterior of the car, and a bag catching andgripping clutch carried by said frame and having a relative movementindependent of the frame, said frame adapted to be swung from bagcatching position to withdrawn position by the force of the impactbetween a bag and the clutch when the bag is caught while the car is inmotion.

20. In combination, a frame carried by a car and swingable forwardly tobag catching position at the exterior of the car and swingablerearwardly to withdrawn position within the car, said frame formed witha longitudinally elongated curved runway, a truck confined to travel insaidrunway, and a bag catching and gripping clutch arranged outwardlybeyond said frame and said truck and fixed to and carried by said truck,substantially as described.

21. In combination, a movable frame carried by a car and movable to andfrom bag catching position at the exterior of the car and withdrawnposition within the car, means for locking said frame in bag catchingposition, a truck carried by and independently movable with respect tosaid frame and adapted on its operative stroke to release said lock andpropel the'frame to withdrawn position, and a bag catching and holdingclutch carried by said truck. I

22. In combination, a movable frame carried by a car and provided withan elongated runway, a truck carried by said frame and freely movablealong said runway, a ba catching and gripping clutch carried by anmovable with said truck, and means for yieldingly holding said truck inoperative bag catching position in said runway.

23. In combination, a frame carried by a car, a truck carried by saidframe and movable independently thereof to and from bag catchingposition, a bag catching and holding clutch carried by and movable withsaid truck and provided with a lock for holding said clutch in baggripping position, and mechanisms for automatically releasing said lockand opening said clutch on the movement of the truck to operative bagcatching position.

24. In combination, a vertical supporting axis arranged 111 a car adacent an opening thereinto, and an elongated horizontally disposed frameintermediate its ends having a lateral support rigid therewith andcentered to swing with said frame on said vertical axis, said framehaving a horizontally elongated longitudinally curved runway with endabutments, a truck confined to and movable longitudinally of said runwayand adapted to be stopped at each end thereof by said abutments, and abag catching and gripping clutch carried by said truck.

25. In combination, a frame carried by a car and having an elongatedrunway, a truck carried by said frame and movable longitudinally thereofalong said runway from operative bag catching position to withdrawnposition, a bag catching and gripping clutch carried by and movable withsaid truck and comprising movable members adapted to open to receive thebag and closed to grip the bag, and means for automatically opening saidmembers when the truck is moved to operative bag catching position.

26. In combination, an elongated frame carried by a car and swingable ona vertical axis to and from withdrawn position within the car and bagcatching position at the exterior of the car and formed with parallelspaced curved tracks forming a runway longitudinally of the frame, atruck confined between said tracks to reciprocate longitudinally thereofand having vertical and horizontalrollers engaging said tracks andconfining the truck in the runway formed thereby, and a bag catchercarried by and moving with the truck.

27. In combination, a vertical supporting axis arranged within the car,means for detaehably mounting said axis whereby the same can be moved tofree one end thereof so that supporting means can be slipped on orremoved from said axis, a swinging frame provided with and carrying abag catcher and having supporting means removably arranged and centeredon said axis on which said frame swings as a center, substantially asdescribed.

28. In combination, a car having an opening, a door to close saidopening, a swinging frame mounted on a vertical axis within the car, adoor-closlng flexible operative connection between said frame and saiddoor whereby the movement of the frame in one direction will close thedoor and opening movement of the door will swing said frame in theopposite direction, and a bag catcher carried by aid frame and adaptedby impact with a mail bag to swing said frame to a position within theear and through said connection pull the door closed.

29. In combination, a frame carried by a car and swingable on a verticalaxis to and from withdrawn position within the car and bag catchingposition at the exterior of the car, a bag catcher carried by andmovable with said frame, and radial bag delivering arms carried by andswingable with said frame and having a limited movement independently ofsaid frame.

30. In combination, a frame swingable on a vertical axis in a car toand. from bag catching position at the exterior of the car and withdrawnposition within the car, a truck movable longitudinally of said frameand provided with a bag catcher, and bag delivering arms swingable withsaid frame to withdrawn and operative positions, said arms having alimited movement independent of said frame whereby said arms can befolded when in withdrawn position, substantially as described.

31. In combination, a car having a side opening, a sliding door to closesaid opening, a swinging frame carried by and mounted within the car andadapted to swing from operative bag catching position at the exterior ofthe car to withdrawn position within the car and provided with a bagcatcher, and a door-closing flexible connection between said door andsaid frame and having loose connection with the frame to permitindependent movement of the frame with respect to the connection andprovided with means whereby the in ard swing of the frame beyond a.certain point in its movement will cause closing of the door through themedium of said connection.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

HAZEL NELSON PEDERSEN. PETER MARTIN CHRIST lfSEN.

Witnesses CHRISTIAN JOHNSON, VICTOR THEOKELSEN.

